17 fish farms to be phased out under new agreement between B.C. government, First Nations

Seventeen fish farms off the northeastern tip of Vancouver Island will be phased out by 2023 under a new agreement between First Nations and the province, the premier announced Friday. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

Farms in Broughton Archipelago will be gone by 2023

by Megan Thomas, CBC News, Dec 14, 2018

Seventeen open-pen fish farms in B.C.’s Broughton Archipelago will be phased out by 2023 under a new agreement between First Nations and the provincial government, the premier announced Friday.

The decision is part of a set of recommendations reached through a government-to-government consultation between the province and the Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis, ‘Namgis and Mamalilikulla First Nations.

Protesters ordered off Midsummer Island fish farm

by Randy Shore, Vancouver Sun, Nov 14, 2017

First Nations protesters have been ordered to vacate their camp on a fish farm near Midsummer Island for 30 days while they prepare for a court date on Marine Harvest’s application for an injunction that would see them permanently removed from the site.

Video: Matriarch Camp

Matriarch Camp —- Occupation of B.C. Premier John Horgan’s Office on Lekwungen territory, in solidarity with ‘Namgis and Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw salmon protectors who are occupying open-net Fish Farms operated by the Norwegian company Marine Harvest at Midsummer Island and Swanson Island in the Broughton Archipelago. Indigenous consent has never been given to these Atlantic salmon farms. Removal of the fish farms has been requested by the Nations on whose territories they illegally operate.

Dancing protesters urge end to fish farms

First Nations demonstrators gather around a fire at the B.C. legislature on Thursday, calling for an end to open-net fish farms. They drew about 200 supporters to their cause. Photograph By Amy Smart

by Carla Wilson, Times Colonist, November 2, 2017
First Nations protesters danced and drummed around a crackling fire in front of the B.C. legislature Thursday, calling for an end to open-net fish farms.

Leaders of the protest, which drew about 200 supporters, say now that the NDP says it’s listening, they want to see farm tenures revoked.

First Nations, environmentalists occupy B.C. salmon farm

‘The time for the very long debate about fish farms has passed,’ says traditional leader Ernest Alfred

By Laura Kane, The Canadian Press, August 30, 2017

A group of First Nations and environmentalists are occupying a salmon farm near Alert Bay, B.C., and say they won’t leave until the provincial and federal governments revoke permits for the facility.

First Nations occupy Marine Harvest fish farm

BC Local News, August 28, 2017

A group of First Nations has peacefully occupied a Marine Harvest salmon farm on Swanson Island, which is located 17 km east of Alert Bay.

On Aug. 25, Hereditary Chief Ernest Alexander Alfred, along with a group of First Nations, occupied the farm. He stated the fish farm is illegally parked in ‘Namgis and Maya’xala Awinakola territory.

Video: Occupation of fish farm by Kwakwaka’wakw

August 25, 2017 Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw Hereditary Leadership visited Ernest Alfred at his occupation camp on Marine Harvest owned salmon farm on Swanson Island B.C. after his first night.

Renowned B.C. Indigenous artist Beau Dick has died

Kwakwaka’wakw artist Beau Dick in traditional regalia.

‘Namgis artist was known for his mask carvings and as an advocate for Aboriginal rights

By Megan Thomas, CBC News, March 28, 2017

World-renowned B.C. Indigenous artist Beau Dick has died.

Dick was a master carver and hereditary chief from the ‘Namgis First Nation in Alert Bay, just off the coast of northern Vancouver Island.

He was known for his mask carvings and as an advocate for Aboriginal rights.

Survivors witness demolition of dreaded First Nations residential school in Alert Bay

Demolition of St Michael’s Residential School in Alert Bay, BC, begins on Feb 18, 2015. It will take a month for the demolition to be completed.

By Sarah Petrescu, Vancouver Sun, Feb 19, 2015

ALERT BAY – Hundreds of residential school survivors and their supporters gathered Wednesday in Alert Bay for the demolition of the decrepit, looming St. Michael’s Indian Residential School building.

“It was important for me to go because I wanted to see how I would feel,” Stanley Hunt said.

He recalled the day, Sept. 4, 1944, his father took him to the school. He was five years old.

Teen girl says Mountie punched her twice during Alert Bay arrest, but RCMP disputes her account

By Nick Eagland, The Province, January 11, 2015

Police are disputing allegations made by a teenager who claims she was a victim of brutality while resisting arrest in Alert Bay.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, told The Province she was walking home with her boyfriend Thursday when two RCMP officers stopped them because they were drinking.

The couple were under a court order not to contact each other.

The boyfriend was taken into custody, but when the girl resisted arrest, one of the officers punched her twice, she said.